12/4/22 - Advent Devotional - Week 2

*This is Week 2 of a 5-part Advent Devotional Series. View our Advent page here.
Week 1 - Week 3

The Angels Worship - Luke 2:8-14

““Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

My favorite Christmas tradition is to simply take time to gaze upon a Christmas tree full of lights. I like to turn off all the other lights, grab a warm drink, cuddle up on the couch and just look at the beautiful tree. There is something about a decked out Christmas tree that gets me into the Christmas spirit and fills me with awe. We see something similar happening in Luke 2.

The news that a Savior will be born in Luke 2:8-14 causes the shepherds in the field to be filled with awe and the angels to be filled with praise. What about this news caused such a response? Why might the shepherds have been filled with fear? Why might the angels instantly rejoice? Because of the Gospel. This Creator God, the one true God, holy and perfect, will be reconciled to his people through His Son, Jesus. A people that were enemies with God because of sin now can be at peace with this holy God. How? Because of the Gospel. Jesus is to be born. He is to live a perfect life and is to die in the place of sinful people. Jesus’ life and death will reconcile people to God.

Notice the spatial imagery in verse 14. The angels are praising God who is in the highest for mending the relationship with his people on earth. Do you see the contrast with the holy God in the highest now being at peace with the lowly, sinful men on earth? For believers, we are no longer enemies with God but are at peace with God. He is now pleased with us because of Christ. Christ lived the perfect life we could not. He died in our place. As we think about God making peace with men through Christ, we should be filled with awe and moved to worship like the multitude of angels. How might you now take a moment to worship the God in the highest for making peace with men on earth?

-Mikala Butler

 
 

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim: "Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heaven adored, Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

Text: Charles Wesley, 1739, 1753; alt.
Tune: MENDELSOHN 7.7.7.7.D.ref, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, 1840

December 4, 2022

Join us for worship in-person and online! See our online landing page here or our direct livestream video link for this service here.

Sermon: Luke 2:1-7; Hebrews 1:1-4 - “What Child is This and Why You Need Him” - Tim Pitzer

OUTLINE:

  1. Because of what God says

  2. Because of what Christ did

  3. Because of what Christ is doing

Order of Worship: Download Here

Set List:

O Come O Come Emmanuel
Angels from the Realm of Glory
What Child is This?
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Crown Him

11/27/22 - Advent Devotional - Week 1

*This is Week 1 of a 5-part Advent Devotional Series. View our Advent page here.
Week 2

What Child Is This? - Luke 2:1-7

“...And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

One of my favorite commercials of all time was from the 1980’s. A young guy is dabbling with an electric guitar at a bar. An older gentleman walks up and asks to play. After about 30 seconds of the most incredible riffs the young guy has ever heard, he asks, “You’re pretty good. What’s your name?” Les Paul replies back, “It’s on your guitar.” Finding out someone’s identity can be an incredible thrill.

The identity of this baby in our text at first glance seems hard to figure out. Two parents, not of noble reputation or status, traveling almost 100 miles in modest travel arrangements to register for a census and have a baby in a barn. He was born in a manger, a feeding trough for animals turned crib (not exactly from pottery barn). He probably had a soiled diaper within a few hours and likely spit up more than his parents thought possible. Yet those who are familiar with the scriptures know he is the one foretold who will reconcile a lost and broken people back to their creator. He will live a perfect life in perfect obedience to God the father, walk to his death on a cross and experience the wrath of God on our behalf overcoming death by rising again. Now, we have something so much better than a guitar with his name on it, we have his Spirit he sent to dwell in our hearts.

Have you made this connection when reading this passage in Luke before? That in addition to this great mystery of the gospel now revealed to us in Christ, this passage is the beginning of your reconciliation to God? The work he did in his life, on the cross, and now interceding for you in heaven has provided you and all who trust in him with the greatest gift imaginable. This Christmas, come and behold him in all his glory, majesty, and power. This is Christ the King. He is our only hope. Emmanuel, God with us.

- Tim Pitzer

 
 

WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

What child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary

Why lies he in such mean estate, where oxen now are feeding?
Good Christian fear; for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear, shall pierce him through; the cross be borne for me, for you
Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come, peasant king, to honor him
The King of Kings salvation brings, let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high, the virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary.

Text: Traditional English carol, adapted by William C. Dix, ca. 1865
Tune: GREENSLEEVES 8.7.8.7.ref, English melody, 16th cent.